To stay competitive among social platforms and to address complaints about low payouts from its original (and now discontinued) Creator Fund, TikTok has launched a new monetization tool: the Creator Rewards Program.
According to TikTok, the Creator Rewards Program (formerly known as the Creativity Program Beta) is designed to reward creators for making “high-quality, original content that is over a minute long.” The initiative is one of TikTok’s latest monetization solutions for creators, including the ad revenue share program TikTok Pulse, LIVE Gifts, as well as the paywall feature Series.
Is TikTok finally getting it right with this new fund? And how do you join this new program, anyway? Below, we break down everything you need to know about the TikTok Creator Rewards.
What is the TikTok Creator Rewards Program?
Previously launched in beta as the “Creativity Program,” TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is a new way to reward content creators financially. It arrives with an updated, “optimized rewards formula” that prioritizes four key elements, including:
- Originality
- Play duration
- Search value
- Audience engagement
The program is supposed to be the answer to complaints that some creators had about the subpar payouts from the original TikTok Creator Fund. One of the biggest criticisms of the Creator Fund is that it just didn’t pay enough, with some creators saying they only made $20-$30 a month even though their videos had millions of views. TikTok eventually discontinued the fund in late 2023.
How much does the TikTok Creator Rewards pay you?
So, is the TikTok Creator Rewards Program going to support creators who felt somewhat demoralized by the lackluster Creator Fund? At this point, it’s still too early to say. However, TikTok did claim that with this new program, creators can earn 20 times the amount they were making through the original fund.
In its latest press release, TikTok also said that thanks to the Creator Rewards, creator earnings have jumped 250% from September 2023 to March 2024, and that the number of creators making $50,000 a month has nearly doubled. If you’re eligible for it, the program is certainly worth a shot.
TikTok Creator Rewards Program eligibility
Interested in monetizing through the TikTok Creator Rewards? Here are the requirements for joining the program. Eligible creators should:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have at least 10,000 followers.
- Have a minimum of 100,000 valid video views in the last 30 days.
- Have a personal account that’s in good standing. Business accounts are not accepted.
- Abide by TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
- Be located in a region where the TikTok Creator Rewards Program is available, including:
- Brazil
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Korea
- United Kingdom
- United States
How to join the TikTok Creator Rewards
To apply for the TikTok Creator Rewards, simply follow these steps:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app. at the bottom of your feed.
- Then, tap the Menu button (☰) and select Settings.
- Select Creator tools.
- Tap Creator Rewards Program to apply.
You’ll receive a notification on whether your application is successful within three days after you’ve submitted your application.
TikTok Creator Rewards vs. Creator Fund: Key differences
You may notice several key differences between this new initiative and the original Creator Fund, namely:
It’s available in more regions
It’s early in the game for the TikTok Creator Rewards, but even so, the program is already available to creators in a number of countries including U.S., U.K., Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea. Keep your eyes peeled as TikTok continues to expand the Creator Rewards to other regions.
Videos have to be longer than one minute
Only eligible creators posting longer videos of over one minute can start earning from the TikTok Creator Rewards. In fact, the platform even encourages creators to film videos up to 10 minutes from the TikTok app, or upload horizontal videos up to 30 minutes long on the TikTok website. For some, this seems to be a sign that TikTok is trying to compete with YouTube on longer videos.
On the contrary, the TikTok Creator Fund had no such requirement. It didn’t matter how long your videos were, you just needed a minimum of 10k followers and 100k views over the past 30 days.
It’s supposed to pay creators (a lot) more
One of the complaints about TikTok’s Creator Fund was just how small the payouts were. Some creators were so dejected that they wanted to quit making content altogether. So how does the Creator Rewards shape up in comparison?
A TikTok spokesperson told The Verge that creators can expect to make 20 times the amount they were making through the original fund, which sounds promising.
To help you get an idea of estimated revenue you can make with this new program, some creators have already started sharing their numbers online:
So is this going to be the typical creator’s experience? Or are we looking at outliers? Only time will tell. But so far, it does seem like the TikTok Creator Rewards is rewarding creators with more money than the Creator Fund.
More ways to make money on TikTok
So what should you do if you’re frustrated by the chump change you’re getting from TikTok but aren’t eligible for the Creator Rewards Program yet? Luckily, there are other ways you can make money on TikTok:
LIVE Gifts and Subscriptions: Going live on TikTok is one of the easiest ways to earn some cash on the platform. When you go live, your audience can use Diamonds (i.e. TikTok’s digital currency) to buy virtual gifts, as a way to thank you for creating great content. Your biggest fans can also sign up for a paid LIVE subscription, which gives them access to subscriber-only LIVEs and other perks.
TikTok Series: Series lets you put longer content of up to 20 minutes behind a paywall, allowing you to create exclusive, premium content while monetizing your audience.
TikTok Pulse: First announced back in May 2022, TikTok Pulse is a revenue-sharing program for advertising.
Selling digital products: If you have an audience on TikTok, you can make money by creating and selling digital products on the platform. From templates to ebooks to mini-courses, you can create different digital products based on your niche and what your audience needs. Once you’ve come up with a product, you can use TikTok as a marketing channel to boost your sales.
Click here to start creating and selling digital products with The Leap. It’s free!Creating UGC (user-generated content) for brands: Many brands pay creators to make authentic-feeling, UGC-like content to promote their products on TikTok. If you have the ability to create high-converting content, this is a great way to flex your skills and earn some money.
TikTok Effect Creator Rewards: Are you good at making viral-worthy AR (augmented reality) effects and filters? This $6 million fund pays the creators behind TikTok’s top-performing effects.
Need more tips for making money on TikTok?
Even if the TikTok Creator Fund was a bit of a dud and the Creator Rewards Program is in its early stages, it’s still possible for you to make substantial income through TikTok. Besides the platform’s own monetization tools, explore other revenue opportunities like selling digital products, creating UGC for brands, or partnering with brands on sponsored content.
For more tips and ideas, get our free guide on how to make money on TikTok!
TikTok Creator Rewards Program FAQ
What is the TikTok Creator Rewards Program?
The TikTok Creator Rewards Program is a new monetization tool designed to reward creators for making high-quality original content longer than one minute. It’s believed that the program will better reward TikTok creators, as TikTok shared that it developed the program based on learnings and feedback from the original Creator Fund.
How do you qualify for the TikTok Creator Rewards Program?
To qualify for the TikTok Creator Rewards, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be of age 18 or older.
- Have 10,000 followers or more.
- Have a minimum of 100,000 valid video views in the last month.
- Have a personal account that’s in good standing. Business accounts aren’t accepted.
- Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
You must also be located in a region where the TikTok Creator Rewards Program is available. See the full list below:
- Brazil
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Korea
- United Kingdom
- United States
How do I join the TikTok Creator Rewards Program?
You can apply for the TikTok Creator Rewards by following these steps:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app.
- Select Creator tools and then Creator Fund.
- Tap Creator tools and then Creator Rewards Program.
TikTok will then review your application, and notify you if it’s successful within three days after you’ve applied.
Follow The Leap on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for more monetization tips for creators. We also make a newsletter.
Further reading
- How To Make Money on TikTok: 9 Effective Ways
- TikTok Is Shutting Down the Creator Fund. What Now?
- How Much Does TikTok Pay You?
- How To Sell Products on TikTok: A Beginner’s Guide
- TikTok Pulse: How Does the Revenue Share Program Work – And Is It Worth It?
- TikTok Effect Creator Rewards: What To Know About the $6 Million Fund
This article was originally published in March 2023, and updated in March 2024 with additional information.
